Greatest Human Rights Documents

#1 The Law of Moses

Moses and the Ten Commandments

The Law of Moses guaranteed rights for all people from conception to death, regardless of whether in the womb or not, age, gender, ethnicity, citizenship, social status. It was a foundation stone in the development of US law. Deuteronomy 5-6 (Amplified Bible edited) states the first 11 of the Commandments as follows.

Yehovah made this covenant not with our fathers, but with us, who are all of us here alive this day. For Yehovah spoke with you face to face at the mount out of the midst of the fire. I [Moses] stood between Yehovah and you at that time to show you the word of Yehovah, for you were afraid because of the fire and went not up into the mount. He said: I am Yehovah your Mighty Deity, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

“You shall have no other deities before Me or besides Me.”

“You shall not make for yourself to worship a graven image or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I, Yehovah your Mighty Deity, am a jealous Deity, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, and showing mercy and steadfast love to thousands and to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My Commandments.”

“You shall not make the name of Yehovah your Mighty Deity unimportant, for Yehovah will not hold him guiltless who uses His name in falsehood or without purpose.”

“Observe the Sabbath day to keep it set apart for Yehovah, as Yehovah your Mighty Deity commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yehovah your Mighty Deity; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, or your manservant or your maidservant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the stranger or sojourner who is within your gates, that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you. And earnestly remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and that Yehovah your Mighty Deity brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore Yehovah your Mighty Deity commanded you to observe and take heed to the Sabbath day.”

“Honor your father and your mother, as Yehovah your Mighty Deity commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you in the land which Yehovah your Mighty Deity gives you.”

“You shall not murder.”

“Neither shall you commit adultery.”

“Neither shall you act slyly or steal.”

“Neither shall you witness falsely against your neighbor.”

“Neither shall you covet your neighbor’s wife, nor desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his manservant or his maidservant, his ox or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

These words Yehovah spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He spoke not again, neither added any more. He wrote them on two tables of stone and gave them to me [Moses].

And you shall love Yehovah your Deity with all your mind and with your entire being and with all your might.

And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be first in your own minds and hearts!

Declaration of Independence

#2 Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence states that human rights were given by God and cannot be taken away by any people or government. If a government attempts to take them away, the people have the responsibility to replace that government.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government

#3 US Constitution

The US Constitution is the mechanism for the people to secure these God-given human rights.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights explicitly state the first and most important of these God-given human rights.

Freedom of religion, speech, and written publication: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Freedom to own lethal weapons: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

Freedom from government personnel: “No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.”

Freedom to own property and have private space: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Freedom from ongoing and continuous court trails: “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

Freedom from conviction of crime without testimonies of many witnesses: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.”

Freedom from conviction of crime without testimonies of many witnesses: “In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Freedom from torture; freedom from jail before being convicted by a jury: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

The US Constitution is to protect freedom and not reduce it: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

The US government has no right to operate or interfere with local government outside of securing the rights of people in the Constitution: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”

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About Jonathan Lankford

Jonathan has a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in Bible with a concentration in missions and intercultural communication. He also earned his Master's in Business Quality Management (MBQPM) and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master's in Education (MEd) focusing on Administration. He has been an educator since 2007, teaching English and humanities in Vietnamese universities. He currently holds the position of Associate Registrar at Tan Tao University, Vietnam.